Sharks sophomore Shale Bouchard won titles at No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles as her team, the defending state champ, won the Class 3A-District 12 title on Wednesday, April 18, 2018.
Adam Fisher/Naples Daily News

FORT MYERS – The Gulf Coast High School girls tennis team began defense of its state championship with an emphatic win in the Class 3A-District 12 tournament Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Naples High boys team repeated as district champs at the Florida Gulf Coast University Tennis Complex. However, the Golden Eagles avoided the drama and tension of last year’s title.

Gulf Coast, which won the 3A title last season for the school’s first girls team state championship, swept the district titles Wednesday. The Sharks won all five singles and both doubles divisions, winning every set in all 18 matches over the two-day tournament.

“Our team played really great,” Gulf Coast sophomore Shale Bouchard said. “Even if the scores didn’t seem that close, all the points were so close. It all comes down to who puts their heart out on the line and really digs deep.”

Gulf Coast finished with 21 points, the most possible, while Barron Collier had 14.

"So very proud of my girls for giving 100 percent effort against the defending state champs," Barron Collier coach Nancy Geiman said. "We competed super hard in every match and definitely made them earn the district title. A coach can’t ask for more. Gulf Coast just played better in the the critical moments and all credit to them."

Naples held a 12-9 edge over Gulf Coast in the boys tournament coming into the second day. The Eagles locked up the title before starting doubles play Wednesday by winning four of the five singles championships.

“It feels nice,” Naples freshman Justin Braverman said. “Everyone played some of their best tennis. It was nice to see everyone step it up.”

Michael Moll won the No. 1 singles title for the Golden Eagles, followed by Braverman (No. 2), Mason Anderson (No. 3) and Alex Richey-Klein (No. 4).

The Naples boys lost just three sets in 15 singles matches, including two at No. 4 singles where Gulf Coast’s Andrew Seneski won the title.

Last year Naples and Gulf Coast finished the two-day tournament tied in the team standings. They had to return for a third day and play a head-to-head match that the Eagles won to take the title.

This season, Naples finished with 19 points to claim the team title. Gulf Coast had 13 to finish runner-up and advance to the regional semifinals along with the Eagles.

Moll and Braverman won the No. 1 doubles title for Naples. Gulf Coast's team of Seneski and Jeremy Montgomery won the No. 2 doubles bracket.

Braverman, who played the past three seasons at Community School (middle-schoolers can play varsity there), also won at No. 1 doubles. He did it serving underhanded the entire tournament because of muscle pain in his shoulder and neck.

“It’s very different,” Braverman said of his unorthodox serve. “Surprisingly, I was able to just anticipate the return so it worked out just fine.”

Naples will host Fort Myers in the regional semifinals on Tuesday. Gulf Coast will play at Venice.